Waking up with a start i groan in pain as my body protests at the sudden movement. The painkillers made me completely forget about the fact i tangled with a sand scorpion and took a decent beating in the procces.

"sands take me i forgot to visit a healer"

Pulling off the heavy heeled boots and the thick clothes used to protect me from elements, I dropped them into a corner to be cleaned later, while useless as propper clothes they could be used as extra padding. Not wasting time i immidately get to cleaning my self as i put a kr`uh inside a lamp which immidately casts a pale white light around the room.

glancing towards a mirror i grab a basin of water containing some cloth, even though i could handle the stink others must surely be suffering.

Dipping my sandy brown hair into water i give it a good scrub before moving onto my left shoulder. From an unfortunate enocunter with a dune stalker some time ago my shoulder got pretty mangled but luckily no infection had occured.

caked in dried blood and grime down to the navel it looked pretty bad but after taking a closer look i could not help but feel elated as the wound seemed almost gone other than the flith around, besides it stinging like hell i felt pretty good otherwise.

"did i become a lizard or something?" i couldn't help but murmur as i looked at my body that was in a pretty good shape considering what it went through last month. Despite being about 14 cycles old i was taller than most of my peers and had some musce definition, a result of constant exercises for past 2 years.

Taking a wet towel from my basin i finally scrub down the grime and caked blood that had accumulated over the month revealing my rather pale skin, ignoring the stinging pain i quickly finish and get some clothes, other than the cured leather jacket i put on regular white shirt and pants made out of mushroom fiber, common to the sanctuary.

Finally looking somewhat presentable i comb my hair back and grab my pouch containing kr`uh, also known as lifeblood of the sanctuary. Everything needs kr`uh to run around here, fingernail sized white cubes contain containing a lot of energy.

Artificers can use it to create incredible things from lamps to charged weapons, although i heard you need special kind of kr`uh for that, the kind i never even saw not to mention come in contact with. Looking at my pouch that felt too light once again i sigh slightly. Hopefully it would be enough for the treatment, my wounds arent as bad as i thought they would be at any rate.

Closing the heavy stone doors i head towards the main hall, which was conveniently close due to my proximity to market district. All of sudden i see something flash towards me and my body not waiting for my mind to catch up threw itself to the ground where i landed awkwardly. Cracking my skull against the wall i gasp heavily before scrambling into something resembling a crouch ignoring the flaring pain in my shoulder. before taking a better look at my assailant, only to be greeted by a familiar shit eating grin.

"Clyde what the fuck do you think you are doing"

I feel the tension and intensity leak in my voice. Clyde used to be my senior inside the ring being 2 cycles older than me, as he was basically in control of a lot of my kids my age since boss liked him and i used to carry out some big jobs for him.

"ahh Abe little Abe i heard you were back alive! you cant imagine how happy i was to hear that y`know ~~"

He once again smirks in his signature shit eating grin as he taps his palm with a blackjack.

"but you know.. you cant just leave like that right? we all signed up for the same thing, how about this you give the ring what you got on this trip and we will even let you come back! just like before you and me make a real good team!"

Cringing at the offer i already realized what was up, he surely waited until we entered a side tunnel with no traffic, nobody would be passing through this place anytime soon, i could not afford to fight him right now, as he was both bigger and stronger. Gulping some air i snap back in a brusque voice hoping he would back off.

" What are you talking about, i had paid off my debt ten times over with the last few jobs you gave me. And you know that i am a scavenger now right. "

He smiled, but it did not quite reach his eyes. I knew that look, but now it was pointed at me and we were no longer on the same side, that was how he showed dominance and dished out violence.

"true,if that was the case we could do nothing to you, young Abe a proper scavenger! for your first successful scavenge i imagine your report must have made an impact at the headquarters no? "

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Chills ran through my body as i realized what was he getting at, i was so exhausted yesterday that i put everything off for tomorrow and he knew it, i was not an official scavenger yet and he intended to make an example of me today. we both knew how the ring worked and i knew him, he was a ticking time bomb losing his temper at slightest provocation to those weaker than him, but sucking up to those stronger than him.

Dropping the previous diplomatic approach i tense up as i snap at him.

" So we both know how things are at the moment, no need to drag this on do you really have to do this? "

Clearly he expected me not to escelate the situation, and i did not intend to do so but his glance behind me gave me all information i needed. The path was closed off and i would not be able to run away today, but i did not intend to return to the ring either,not as a glorified slave in any case.

My musing was suddenly interrupted by a chuckle and his raspy voice now like a raw blade against my neck as he softly mutters, we never liked each other and i knew he was a violent but not this much of a creep.

" Oh little ren of course i don't have to do this... but i never really liked the way you look at me, as if you know it all. And i am going to enjoy breaking you oh so much~~"

Yup a violent creep was a definitive conclusion. In that frozen second between a stand off and fighting I see his eyes flick behind me, a signal i recognize.

As always he does not intend for it to be a fair fight, three on one would be over in a bloody flash. I know he has weight and strength on me but he was not as desperate as i was, my only chance was to act before he does.

Bringing up my fists i looked at him directly and charged, i could not fight him but i fully intended to take his blow and get past him but he wouldn't know that. Not anticipating my attack he put out a nice left hook which he intended to follow up with a blackjack to my head, all his moves that i knew already but could not do much against.

I slipped to the left, which threw him off enough that I could step back to block the blackjack with my hand. I know it's coming and my muscles tense as much as they can. The knowing doesn't soften the blow. The blackjack is as hard as it looked and my hand was no match for it. I let out a strangled scream and feel a debilitating pain in my hand causing my mind to cloud over. Swiftly snapping out of it i cry out in pain as i throw myself to the ground to avoid getting pummeled again, i had to do something fast.

Jumping back i feel a slight cool wash over my body as pain dulls slightly but still screams at me to do something about it. Snapping back into focus i see another blow coming towards my face almost comically slow yet terrifying nonetheless. However i surprise both of us as i take a fast step forward and unable to clench my hand i slap him with the left full across the face. It rocked him enough that he took a step back and then steadied himself, blinking his eyes and staring at me ridiculously.

Taking the brief moment of respite i kick back and run past him avoiding three pairs of hands reaching for me at the last moment. Excitement bubbles up inside me but is interrupted by a sharp pain in my back causing me to stagger for a moment and almost making me fall again, gritting my teeth i ignore it and press on as pain wrecks my body apart, it crying for some respite. My mind was already drifting away but my body had a goal as it pressed on...

Feeling like i inhaled a fist of sozsi i finally stop as my heart beats heavily, threatening to leap out of my chest, relief and exhaustion hit me like a truck as realization hits me that i managed to get away and that i was safe. Berrating myself for carelessness a sigh escapes my chest, if the report was done yesterday none of this would have happened, a small ring like my old one had no chance of getting involved with administration.

Pushing my tired feet onward soon the healers shop appears in front of me, one of the smaller ones on this floor but i knew the owner as she owed me a few favors for some errands and right now i desperately needed someone that would not rat me out while i was still weak.

I used to think that the sudden pain was the worst as it surprises you. but now with the constant throbbing in my hand and the constant searing pain in my back i know that this is far more debilitating. Without a break in the pain I cannot formulate a proper thought as my brain was just praying for relief.

Stumbling past the main gates of the clinic a disgruntled man turns around angrily as i bump into him, no doubt intending to berate me for jumping the line but i can see his word get stuck in his mouth as he takes a look at my no doubt wretched appearance. with my hand swollen hand and bloody back he just steps aside as he yells out for healer.

"Amanda quick! get my herbs later someone needs your attention right now."

Widening my eyes slightly in relief and surprise i nod gratefully at the middle aged man as i stumble past him into the shops backroom where i spot a familiar bed collapsing on it heavily i feel all my strength leak out of my body as my mind threatens to drift away once again.

Opening my eyelids heavily i see a sharp yet elegant face looming over me a woman that i recognize as amanda, she was fussing over me saying something but nothing was quite reaching my brain, forcing myself to focus i sit and scowl as my thoughts finally come together slightly.

" Amanda i will explain everything later and report to the administration but i need you to patch me up before i bleed out or kill myself "

Not waiting for her answer i take out my pouch containing all of my kr`uh as i hand it to her.

"a total of 13 i will get more later if its not enough"

Snapping back into her usual calm self she just nods as she speaks curtly.

"it should be enough but i cant just patch you up and let you walk off, this is not what i usually deal with so it will take some time, maybe even the whole night and you don't want to be awake for it."

Glancing at her inquisitively i look for any signs of deception but find none. Sighing slightly i lie on my stomach and relax slightly, there was nothing i could do now, not in this state at least.

"Just do what you gotta do"

Nodding firmly she puts a gag in my mouth and grasps what is no doubt a knife in my back.

"this will hurt so just bear with it for now"

White light flashes in my eyes as pain sears into my brain causing me to scream into the gag and black out into the sweet darkness once again